Mr. Speaker, I join with other members in underscoring the significance of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Flags are flying at half mast and in a few moments parliamentary business will stop to mark the occasion.

Today is a day of remembrance and action. In remembrance, let us take a moment to remember the 14 women who died at the École Polytechnique in Montreal 12 years ago, killed simply because they were women.

Let us remember these women, and all women who have suffered because of violence, or who continue to suffer because of it today.

Out of this tragedy we have been given an occasion to focus on the violence against women that still permeates our society, the violence and threat of violence that women in Canada face every day at home, at work or on the street.

It is a time to assess our response over the past year and our progress toward eliminating violence from women's lives and to plan for the future. Today is an occasion to recommit ourselves to non-violence.

Mr. Speaker, even after 12 years, nothing can erase the memory of December 6, 1989, when 14 young women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal were killed. Their crime was having been women.

It is our duty to think about the real measures that each of us can take to prevent and eliminate violence against women. It is also our duty to ensure that these women did not die in vain, and that their tragic deaths serve to heighten our awareness that the fight against violence is one that continues.

On behalf of the Bloc Quebecois and myself, I would like to extend my support to the families of all of these young women, these young victims, for whom, every year, December 6 reminds them of the loss of a dear one and the senseless nature of this terrible crime.

As a sign of support, I invite members to wear a white ribbon, or the pin designed to commemorate this sad event.

Mr. Speaker, following the December 6, 1989 tragedy at Montreal's École polytechnique, this day has been designated by our government as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Now, more than a decade later, we are unfortunately still living in a society where violence against women is ever present.

Today, a series of events are taking place across the country to remember all the victims of violence against women who lost their lives.

In my riding of Ahuntsic, the Centre des femmes italiennes de Montréal is showing its solidarity with all women by distributing white candles to residents of Ahuntsic. I congratulate them and I reiterate my support to organizations such as the centre that work to eliminate all forms of violence against women.

It is our responsibility as Canadian parliamentarians to regroup our efforts and to eliminate any and all types of violence against women in our society. Let us all work together to put an end to all forms of violence.

Mr. Speaker, December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day coincides with the sad anniversary of the 1989 Montreal massacre when 14 young women were tragically killed at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.

It is a time to pause and reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is a time to reflect upon and give serious consideration to those men, women and children all over the world who live daily with the threat of violence or who have died as a result of violence.

It is also a day for all of us as a community to speak out on this issue and to rededicate ourselves to taking concrete action in our daily lives to prevent and eliminate violence against women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a special Kitchener hero. This morning the Governor General recognized Constable David Nicholson in a posthumous decoration for bravery. Senior Constable Curtis Rutt and Constable Robert Sauvé also received medals of bravery in connection with the same event.

On August 12, 1998, Constable Nicholson lost his life while attempting to rescue a 12 year old boy at the Grand River's Parkhill Dam. Constable Nicholson was trapped underwater when his scuba tank wedged in a hole. Constables Rutt and Sauvé made valiant efforts to save their colleague but sadly their efforts were unsuccessful.

The Ontario Police Memorial carries the words “Heroes in life not death”. These words were inspired by words from Constable Nicholson's own family. These words remind us that every man and woman who dons the uniform of a police officer is a living hero, deserving our respect and admiration.

I ask the House to join me in saluting Constable Nicholson and all our police heroes who go about their duties every day, proud to serve and protect.

Mr. Speaker, on December 20, 2000, Gary Merlin saved a six year old girl from a house fire in Surrey, B.C. Mr. Merlin was visiting friends when he was awakened by cries for help and the smell of smoke. Mr. Merlin and the friends' two older daughters exited the house. When they realized the six year old was missing, Mr. Merlin dashed back in the house and was struck by a fireball.

After running back out to extinguish the flames that had engulfed him, he re-entered the house and followed the little girl's cries through the dense smoke. He found the young victim in her bed hiding under covers. Although he wrapped the child and himself in quilts, both were seriously burned when the bedroom erupted into flames.

Disoriented, Mr. Merlin tried to retrace his steps back through the path to the front door but was blocked by fire. He rushed the girl into another room where he punched a double paned window with his forearm. Despite a deep cut on his wrist and forearm he then escaped the inferno by jumping out of the window holding the child tightly. Although severely burned, both Mr. Merlin and the child recovered.

Today, my constituent Gary Merlin was honoured with the decoration of bravery by the Governor General of Canada. I thank Gary for his amazing bravery. He is a fine Canadian.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has publicly said that he is not a visionary, and we all agree with that. He has also tried to compensate by saying that he is a good money manager, and the auditor general does not agree with that. As a matter of fact she said that the Prime Minister and his colleagues were probably the worst money managers in all of Canadian history.

The Prime Minister clearly has a spending addiction problem, but there is good news: he could feed his addiction if he would increase spending in the areas of health, security and defence. The bad news is that he has to stop the stupid spending. Will he stop the stupid spending and increase health care, security and defence?

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that we have the worst money managers in Canadian history sitting over there. It is interesting that at one time there was a position called comptroller of the treasury. That position was there to protect taxpayers from unauthorized spending, and the auditor general comments on the need for that kind of protection.

Will the Prime Minister stand and admit he has an addiction problem? That is a very important step to overcome addiction. One has to admit one has the problem. Then would he agree to reappoint the taxpayer protector, the position of comptroller of the treasury? Would he agree to do that?

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is addicted in a very sick way to making statements that have no basis in fact. He ignores the fact that we were faced with a $42 billion deficit from his Conservative friends. We eliminated that.

We not only balanced the budget. We went on to have three successive years of surpluses. In addition, we have paid down the nation debt, freeing up billions of dollars, freeing up some $2.5 billion every year for constructive spending.

If the hon. member were fair and balanced and did not have an addiction to imaginary statements, he would recognize these strong points.

Mr. Speaker, I am very fair. They paid down the Tory deficit by slashing health care, slashing security and raising taxes. That is simply how they did it.

The Liberal government is slashing defence, health, and security, but refuses to slash waste. It is clear from the auditor general's report that there is waste and mismanagement throughout this government.

Will the government finally listen to the opposition and boost spending on security and health, keep tax cuts, and cut the fat and waste?

Israel, the United States and Australia boycotted this meeting, which took place after innocent Israelis were murdered. The Liberal government continues to attend meetings such as those in Geneva and Bonn.

If this government will not listen to the opposition, why will it not listen to—